Fungal textile materials and leather analogs

Abstract

Textile compositions comprising at least one filamentous fungus are disclosed, as are methods for making and using such textile compositions. Embodiments of the textile compositions generally include at least one of a plasticizer, a polymer, and a crosslinker, in addition to the filamentous fungus. The disclosed textile compositions are particularly useful as analogs or substitutes for conventional textile compositions, including but not limited to leather.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A composite fungal sheet, comprising a first inactivated fungal biomass and a second inactivated fungal biomass, wherein:
 the first inactivated fungal biomass comprises a first polymer and an intact filamentous fungal biomat; 
 the second inactivated fungal biomass comprises a second polymer and size-reduced filamentous fungal particles; and 
 the first and second inactivated fungal biomasses are laminated together. 
 
     
     
       2. The composite fungal sheet of  claim 1 , wherein the second inactivated fungal biomass further comprises an intact filamentous fungal biomat, or the first inactivated fungal biomass further comprises size-reduced filamentous fungal particles, or both. 
     
     
       3. The composite fungal sheet of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second inactivated fungal biomasses is produced by a surface fermentation process, a submerged fermentation process, or a process for mycological biopolymer growth into a void space. 
     
     
       4. The composite fungal sheet of  claim 1 , wherein a loading ratio of the first polymer in the first inactivated fungal biomass, or of the second polymer in the second inactivated fungal biomass, or both, is at least about 25:75 and no more than about 75:25. 
     
     
       5. The composite fungal sheet of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second polymers is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, chitosan, polyethylene glycol, alginates, starches, polycaprolactones, polyacrylic acids, hyaluronic acid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       6. The composite fungal sheet of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal halide, a crosslinker, a deliming agent, a dye, a fatliquoring oil, a finishing oil, a finishing wax, a liming agent, nitrocellulose, a pH adjusting agent, a pickling agent, a pigment, a plasticizer, a solubilizer, a surfactant, a tanning agent, and a thermal dopant. 
     
     
       7. The composite fungal sheet of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-fungal textile material. 
     
     
       8. The composite fungal sheet of  claim 7 , wherein the non-fungal textile material is selected from the group consisting of an acrylic textile, an alpaca textile, an angora textile, a cashmere textile, a coir textile, a cotton textile, an eisengarn textile, a hemp textile, a jute textile, a Kevlar textile, a linen textile, a microfiber textile, a mohair textile, a nylon textile, an olefin textile, a pashmina textile, a polyester textile, a piña textile, a ramie textile, a rayon textile, a sea silk textile, a silk textile, a sisal textile, a spandex textile, a spider silk textile, a wool textile, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       9. The composite fungal sheet of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first polymer is crosslinked to at least a portion of the second polymer. 
     
     
       10. A composite fungal sheet, comprising:
 a first inactivated fungal biomass comprising an intact filamentous fungal biomat; 
 a second inactivated fungal biomass comprising size-reduced filamentous fungal particles; and 
 a non-fungal textile material, 
 wherein the non-fungal textile material is disposed between the first and second inactivated fungal biomasses, and 
 wherein the first inactivated fungal biomass, the second inactivated fungal biomass, and the non-fungal textile material are laminated together.